FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2023
Pennsylvania’s
Unemployment Rate Decreases to 3.9 Percent in December, Setting New Record
Low
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
(L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for
December 2022.
Pennsylvania’s
unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to
3.9% in December, setting a new record low. The U.S. unemployment rate was also
down one-tenth of a point over the month, falling to 3.5 percent. The
commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 1.6 percentage points below its December
2021 level and the national rate was down 0.4 percentage points over the year.
“Pennsylvania’s new
record low unemployment rate of 3.9% is encouraging. Pennsylvanians are
reentering the workforce, launching new careers and pursuing jobs that sustain
their families. Opportunity abounds today for Pennsylvania workers,” said
L&I Acting Secretary Nancy Walker. “We also know that a historically tight
labor market presents its own challenges, particularly for employers who need
workers with specialized skillsets. L&I’s role in providing services to
workers and employers is as critical as ever, and we are committed to meeting
those challenges and building a Pennsylvania economy that works for everyone.”
Pennsylvania’s
civilian labor force – the estimated
number of residents working or looking for work – was up 9,000 over the month.
The employment count rose by 11,000 and resident unemployment declined by
1,000.
Pennsylvania’s total
nonfarm jobs were up 17,000 over the month to 6,040,100 in December. Jobs
increased from November in 9 of the 11 industry supersectors.
The largest gain was in construction (+4,600), while professional &
business services jobs rose to a record high level. Over the year, total
nonfarm jobs were up 202,500 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors.
From April 2020 to
December 2022, Pennsylvania recovered approximately 95% of jobs lost in the first
two months of the pandemic. Four supersectors -
trade, transportation & utilities; information; professional & business
services; and manufacturing – were above their pre-pandemic job levels in
December 2022.
Additional information
is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us
on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Note: The above data
are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid
month-to-month comparison. December data
are preliminary and subject to revision.
MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James, dlipress@pa.gov
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Editor's Note: A breakdown of Pennsylvania's employment
statistics follows.
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Seasonally
Adjusted |
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(in
thousands) |
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Change
from |
Change
from |
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|
December |
November |
December |
November
2022 |
December
2021 |
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|
2022 |
2022 |
2021 |
volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
|
PA |
|
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|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
6,455 |
6,446 |
6,367 |
9 |
0.1% |
88 |
1.4% |
|
Employment |
6,202 |
6,191 |
6,017 |
11 |
0.2% |
185 |
3.1% |
|
Unemployment |
254 |
255 |
350 |
-1 |
-0.4% |
-96 |
-27.4% |
|
Rate |
3.9 |
4.0 |
5.5 |
-0.1 |
---- |
-1.6 |
---- |
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|
U.S. |
|
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|
Civilian Labor Force |
164,966 |
164,527 |
162,410 |
439 |
0.3% |
2,556 |
1.6% |
|
Employment |
159,244 |
158,527 |
156,081 |
717 |
0.5% |
3,163 |
2.0% |
|
Unemployment |
5,722 |
6,000 |
6,329 |
-278 |
-4.6% |
-607 |
-9.6% |
|
Rate |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
-0.1 |
---- |
-0.4 |
---- |
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Note: January 2023 labor force and
nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on March 10th, 2023. |
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|
Seasonally
Adjusted |
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(in
thousands) |
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Change from |
Change from |
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|
December |
November |
December |
November 2022 |
December 2021 |
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|
2022 |
2022 |
2021 |
volume |
percent |
volume |
percent |
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Total Nonfarm Jobs |
6,040.1 |
6,023.1 |
5,837.6 |
17.0 |
0.3% |
202.5 |
3.5% |
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Goods Producing Industries |
855.4 |
848.6 |
820.6 |
6.8 |
0.8% |
34.8 |
4.2% |
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|
Mining & Logging |
24.3 |
24.1 |
22.2 |
0.2 |
0.8% |
2.1 |
9.5% |
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|
Construction |
260.3 |
255.7 |
253.0 |
4.6 |
1.8% |
7.3 |
2.9% |
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|
Manufacturing |
570.8 |
568.8 |
545.4 |
2.0 |
0.4% |
25.4 |
4.7% |
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Service Providing Industries |
5,184.7 |
5,174.5 |
5,017.0 |
10.2 |
0.2% |
167.7 |
3.3% |
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|
Trade, Transportation &
Utilities |
1,168.8 |
1,167.9 |
1,131.4 |
0.9 |
0.1% |
37.4 |
3.3% |
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|
Information |
90.2 |
90.1 |
90.6 |
0.1 |
0.1% |
-0.4 |
-0.4% |
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|
Financial Activities |
333.5 |
333.4 |
327.3 |
0.1 |
0.0% |
6.2 |
1.9% |
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|
Professional & Business
Services |
835.7 |
831.8 |
805.8 |
3.9 |
0.5% |
29.9 |
3.7% |
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|
Education & Health
Services |
1,276.0 |
1,273.1 |
1,228.7 |
2.9 |
0.2% |
47.3 |
3.8% |
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|
Leisure & Hospitality |
552.1 |
549.6 |
513.0 |
2.5 |
0.5% |
39.1 |
7.6% |
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|
Other Services |
250.2 |
250.3 |
245.2 |
-0.1 |
0.0% |
5.0 |
2.0% |
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|
Government |
678.2 |
678.3 |
675.0 |
-0.1 |
0.0% |
3.2 |
0.5% |
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For a more detailed breakdown of
seasonally adjusted jobs data at the sector level, please contact the Center
for Workforce Information & Analysis at 1-877-4WF-DATA, or visit
www.paworkstats.pa.gov |
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Note: January 2023 labor force and
nonfarm jobs statistics will be released on March 10th, 2023. |
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